UMass student dies in car accident

A 20-year-old Massachusetts woman was killed in a pedestrian accident on the evening of July 31. The woman, who was a student at the University of Massachusetts and was going into her senior year studying engineering, was walking with a friend along the northbound side of North East Street at about 11 p.m. A Toyota RAV4 driven by a 63-year-old woman struck the two, and the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The driver stopped at the scene of the accident immediately and called 911. The friend of the deceased woman did not suffer serious injuries but was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Reports of the incident did not detail if the driver was intoxicated or distracted, and they did not detail if the pedestrians were on a sidewalk or at the side of the road.

Police have said the woman is complying with the investigation, which is ongoing. Police have not said whether charges will be filed against the driver.

When a person is killed due to a driver’s negligence, the unexpected death can place a strain on the family both emotionally and financially. Many young people do not have life insurance, and the family may need to pay medical bills accumulated before the death as well as cover funeral costs. Paying bills may be difficult for a family, depending on their financial situation, and the loss of that person’s income might exacerbate the situation. In cases like this, it may be helpful for a family to contact a lawyer who has experience in wrongful death cases. A lawyer may be able to help the family pursue a settlement, which can cover costs in some cases.

Source: WGGB, “UMass Student Dies After Being Hit by Car in Amherst”, Joe Glauber , August 01, 2014